THAG’s financial position considerably better
–local tourism industry doing relatively well

PRESIDENT of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Mr Kit Nascimento has reported that the organisation is now in a considerably better financial position than it has been for some time but, still, insufficiently financed to fully carry out its mandate.In the President’s report issued by THAG, Mr Nascimento asserted that as the private sector umbrella organisation for tourism, THAG’s task is to promote and develop tourism and to advance the interests of its members.

He stated that in doing so, THAG serves best in collaborating through participation and advocacy with the government on behalf of the tourism industry, which has been doing relatively well.
“Throughout the year, we have met on a regular basis with our Minister of Tourism, with the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority and with the staff of the Ministry and the Authority. We have pursued a consistent and strong lobby with our government for legislative action favourable to the industry and for government to invest in a marketing programme for Guyana,” Mr. Nascimento said.
He pointed out that THAG has worked closely with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in advocating the legislation of incentives for inclusion in its budget,which is essential for making the industry competitive.
Mr Nascimento noted that at the THAG’s President’s Awards Dinner, he spoke “strongly and frankly” in support of the recommendations made in the Cecil Miller Report, a report from a Consultant engaged by the government.
“We took the Miller message to our Minister of Finance [Dr. Ashni Singh] in his pre- 2014 budget meeting with the Private Sector Commission. We urged legislation providing a preferred rate of VAT be applied to hotels and tourism resorts in line with preferred treatment which our competitors across the Caribbean, Central and South America enjoy,” he said.
He continued: “Though we were disappointed that our recommendations were not reflected in this year’s budget, both the President and the Minister of Tourism have since given public undertakings to implement these incentives.”
Mr. Nascimento indicated that at the meeting with the Minister of Finance, THAG addressed the Minister directly on the urgency of budgeting sufficient funds to clean up the national environment and everyone should all be enormously pleased that the sum of $1B has been provided in the budget for that purpose.
“It remains now to see whether an effective, efficient and sustainable use of those funds will be forthcoming. We must play our part in collaborating where we can and where we should with the government,” the THAG President said.

SPONSORSHIP
“When I was elected President, THAG was in financial trouble and without major sponsors. It’s good to be able to report that in spite of the fact that we have not increased our membership fees and have not increased our membership, we are no longer in the red and we have benefited considerably from the active sponsorship and support of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T),” Nascimento pointed out.
He elaborated that on January 14, 2014, THAG concluded a Sponsorship Agreement with GT&T for 36 months recognising GT&T as the official MOBILE PROVIDER for members of the Association and agreeing that GT&T and THAG collaborate on marketing and public relations opportunities of mutual benefit, noting that GT&T has invested three million dollars ($3M) annually for a period of three (3) years in support of THAG’s activities and the new Board will inherit this sponsorship.
He said that Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has decided to provide support for selective THAG marketing and promotion activities.
He reiterated that on April 4, 2014, at the THAG’s President’s Awards Dinner, which was attended by the President of Guyana Donald Ramotar and Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali, THAG earned just in excess of $1M.
“When I took office in August 2013 our net current balance was $329,198 and, today, its $3,193,609,” Mr Nascimento declared.

TRAINING AND PARTNERSHIP
Nascimento highlighted that a major service rendered to THAG members is training.
“We can never be too well trained in delivering hospitality. We have worked closely with CESO and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). THAG and CESO delivered, over the past year, training in Financial and Hospitality Management and Marketing Techniques to 16 separate member locations and Cathy Hughes delivered a one-week THAG/CDB Financed Seminar on Marketing Skills to 14 hotels, mostly THAG members,” he said.
He outlined that THAG has now entered into a partnership with JTW and Associates in an effort to deliver training to students and new entrants to tourism at an extremely affordable price, this information has been passed on to all its members.
He underscored that an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Consultant, Andrew Cook, contracted to the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit, initiated the collection of data for a study to establish the contribution made to THAG’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has submitted a report to the Minister.
THAG in the meantime, has re- engaged the Canadian Executive Services Organisation(CESO) to discuss the completion of this study through their support and facilitation of an industry professional in this regard. CESO has also committed to financing the accommodation for the duration of the volunteer’s stay.
“It’s critical that we complete this study in order that our government is convinced of the necessity of investing much more than at present in truly marketing Guyana as a tourism destination,” Nascimento said.
On that score, THAG, for the first time, took control, in full collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), with substantial GTA financial support, of THAG’s presence at the Rutland Birdfair in England.
The representation included THAG being represented by a professional Bird Guide, Waldyke (Wally) Prince, along with the Director of the GTA, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh.

SECURITY
The THAG president indicated that an ongoing and persistent concern for the tourism industry is the security and safety of Guyana for visitors.
He said that if Guyana is perceived as a dangerous place to visit, no amount of promotional marketing will cause visitors to come.
Nascimento reported that THAG has maintained a cordial and collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Home Affairs, but, the escalating reports on crime and banditry and offshore piracy of fishing boats “do nothing to make us comfortable and less to improve our international image.”
He informed that when reports appeared recently in the media of passengers travelling from the CJIA being attacked by bandits in police uniform, THAG sought a meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
“We met with Minister Rohee and senior police officers on August 6, and I am pleased to report that the Minister afforded us the opportunity of a free and frank discussion on the matter and we were sufficiently satisfied that the police have instituted measures to counter this threat.
“Headlines in our media of piracy on our coast are equally disturbing. Unfortunately, these reports are interpreted on international websites as being dangerous to yachts visiting Guyana,” Nascimento said.
He indicated that after he joined the Guyana Tourism Authority’s team in Trinidad & Tobago on August 15, to brief some 50 yachtsmen and women on the International Rally to be held in Guyana and to encourage the massive yachting community in Trinidad to visit Guyana, “I was at pains to explain that the piracy off our shores is not targeted to yachts.”
MNRE’S INVOLVEMENT
In his report, the President claimed that he had recently circulated to all members, the results of a meeting which THAG asked for and was held last week with the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud.
Nascimento outlined that THAG expressed growing concern over the environmental damage being done to the Cuyuni, Mazaruni and Essequibo Rivers by gold-mining and the appalling garbage- strewn state of Bartica’s waterfront and streets.
He said that THAG was advised in writing that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission  (GGMC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are implementing “a detailed water quality assessment of the Cuyuni River”, part of an ecological and physico-chemical assessment of the Cuyuni/Mazaruni/Konawaruk River Basin commencing this month.
In addition, the Ministry, together with the Ministry of Local Government, has promised funds from the “Clean up my country” and the mobilization of equipment to clean up the entire waterfront of Bartica in anticipation of the International Yacht Rally to be hosted there next week.

Nacimento added that as president of THAG, he has set out six priorities:
1) Increasing THAG’s membership.
2) Restoring THAG to viability.
3) Work in partnership with government to persuade government to invest in promoting and marketing Guyana as a tourism destination and to implement a marketing programme for Guyana.
4) Support the Private Sector Commission in engaging government to clean up the environment.
5) Work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the safety and security of our businesses.
6) Mount a Public Relations (PR) Programme on behalf of THAG and its members.
“We have, in the main, measurably kept on target, but could have and should have done more and done better,” he said.
“I also said that any Association is as strong as its membership. In spite of our efforts at holding membership fellowship meetings to coincide with our board meetings and introducing training to support these occasions, membership participation continues to be disappointing,” Nascimento highlighted.

Concluding, he stated that it has been an honour and a rewarding experience serving as THAG President.
“I am grateful for the tremendous support,” he said. “I have received from all of the members of the Board and the hard work that each of them has put in at the expense of their private time on behalf of the Association.”
He acknowledged the support and contributions of THAG’s Vice- President, Nicole Correia; Head of the Marketing Committee, Andrea De Caires; Head of the Editorial Committee of the EG Magazine Mr. Shaun McGrath; and THAG executives Treina Butts and Oslyn Martindale.